JUSTICE

Last week, I started out with a quote from Rev. Dr. William Barber, II at the 2016 Democratic Convention: “I’m so concerned about those who say so much about what God says so little while saying so little about what God says so much.” Abortion is one of those things that Republicans talk about so much, but God says so little.

So, what does God say ‘so much’ about? Let’s take a look:

Deuteronomy 10:18 - He enacts justice for orphans and widows, and he loves immigrants, giving them food and clothing. (All quotes from the CEB)

Psalm 10:17-18 - Lord, you listen to the desires of those who suffer. / You steady their hearts; you listen closely to them, / to establish justice / for the orphan and the oppressed, / so that people of the land / will never again be terrified.

Isaiah 10:1-3 - Doom to those who pronounce wicked decrees, / and keep writing harmful laws /     to deprive the needy of their rights / and to rob the poor among my people of justice; / to make widows their loot; /to steal from orphans! / What will you do on the day of punishment /when disaster comes from far away? / To whom will you flee for help; / where will you stash your wealth?

Are you sensing a theme? There’s more! There are many passages in which the word ‘justice’ is not explicitly used, but is rather described:

Leviticus 25:35-7 - If one of your fellow Israelites faces financial difficulty and is in a shaky situation with you, you must assist them as you would an immigrant or foreign guest so that they can survive among you. Do not take interest from them, or any kind of profit from interest, but fear your God so that your fellow Israelite can survive among you. Do not lend a poor Israelite money with interest or lend food at a profit.

Luke 4:16-19 - Jesus went to Nazareth, where he had been raised. On the Sabbath he went to the synagogue as he normally did and stood up to read. The synagogue assistant gave him the scroll from the prophet Isaiah. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where it was written: The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, / because the Lord has anointed me. / He has sent me to preach good news to the poor, / to proclaim release to the prisoners / and recovery of sight to the blind, / to liberate the oppressed, / and to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.

Let’s not forget the parable of the workers in the vineyard. The owner goes out and hires people throughout the day. “When those who were hired at five in the afternoon came, each one received a denarion. Now when those hired first came, they thought they would receive more. But each of them also received a denarion.” Feel free to read ‘living wage’ for ‘denarion.’ This is what God’s justice looks like; everyone having enough. Enough food, enough water, enough clothing, enough shelter. Enough.

In God’s Beloved Community, all have enough – even those who would take from others, even those who we might see as our enemies, even those who would take away abortion rights – and other civil rights. In God’s vision, we are all beloved, and God finds happiness in us. Therefore, God’s justice requires that ALL are cared for.

Let’s commit to doing just that today.

B